Circuit closer



May 19, 1931. F. M. JACOB CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Dec. 14, 1927 ,DI MW" Hm w 7 .w m k M J52 Patented May 19, 1931 WITH STATES FRANCIS MARION JACOB, F COLUMBUS, I/[ISSISSIPPI CIRCUIT CLOSER Original application filed March 22, 1927, Serial No. 177,446. Divided and this application filed December This invention relates to an improvement in circuit-closers, and is a division of my copending application Serial No. 177,446, filed March 22, 1927.

The object of the invention is to provide an electric circuit-closer, especially adapted for use in an automatic fire-alarm circuit that upon release it will automatically close the circuit through the alarm system. This permits of providing thermally controlled means cuit therethrough. A casing l, which may enclose or support said apparatus, as desired, has a plate 2 secured thereto, as shown in the drawings, by means of the screws 3. Supported between the ears 4: formed on this plate, and pivoted thereto, as at 5, is a lever (5. The free end of this lever is provided with an opening 7, to which suitable actuating means, as for instance a cord (not shown) may be attached for normally tending to move the lever in one direction about its pivot 5. The opposite end of the lever 6 is engaged by a pin 8 provided with a collar 9 formed thereon, and housed within a sleeve 10 formed on the inner surface of the plate 2. The collar 9 is engaged by means of an expansion spring 11, which is interposed between said collar and a screw 12 screwed into the inner end of the sleeve 10 for adjusting the tension of the spring against the pin 8. This spring 11 normallytends to push the pin 8 outward to rock the lever 6 on its pivot 5.

On the opposite side of the pivot 5 from the pin 8, and slidably mounted in the plate 2, is a switch-pin 13 normally pressed outward against the lever 6 by a spring 14, which Serial No. 239,919.

is introduced between the head of this pin 13 and the face of the plate 2. The inner end of the switch pin 13 has a switch-arm 15 fixed thereto which extends vertically above and below it, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A plug 17 formed of insulating material is fixed in position in the plate 2 and carries metallic contact-strips 18 at its upper and lower ends in position to be engaged by the switch-arm 15 when the switch-pin 13 is pressed inward by the lever 6. i

A connecting spring clamp 19 is fixed to the inner end of the switch-pin l3 and the plate 15, and similar connecting members 20 are fixed to the contact-strips 18. Suitable electrical conducting wires may be attached to these spring-conducting members 19 and 20, between which it is desired to make or break the electrical circuit, and these wires may lead to any suitable mechanism, as for instance to a fire-alarm circuit. The spring 14L is of less resiliency than the spring 11, so that when the lower end of the lever 6 is released, the spring 11 will move the lever 6 to push the switch-pin 13 inward against the tension of the spring 14 which moves the switch-arm 15 into bridging contact with the cross-strips 18. This mechanism closes the circuit between the connecting-member 19 and the electrical wire connected therewith, and the wires connected to the connecting members 20 through the medium of the switch-arm 15.

lVhenever the lower end of the lever 6 is pulled outward, this forces the plunger 9 backward in the sleeve 10 against the tension of the spring 11 and releases the pressure on the switch-pin 13, allowing the spring 14 to force said pin outward through the plate 2, which carries tl1eswitcl1-arm 15 out of bridging engagement with the contact strips 18 and against the insulating plug 17 which breaks the electrical circuit between the wires connected to the clamps 19. and 20.

In this way, an automatic means is provided for automatically making the circuit upon release of the controlling-arm 6, as when a cord attached thereto with fusible means therein has become severed, thereby automatically closing the circuit to actuate i thefire-alarm or other mechanism in connec- 7 tion with which the electric switch may be used. The construction is simple, but very' effective for the purpose accomplished, and may be adjusted totake care of varying lengths of cords or other attachments for me lever 6,an-d .to obtain the proper automatic actuation of the switch.

I claim:

1. A circuit-closer. for a device of' the character described, including a plate having a sleeve thereon, a' leverpivotally mounted on theplate, apin slidably mounted in the plate and having an end thereof'i'n position to en a e and actuate the lever the o 'osite I O (J i end of said pin extending into the sleeve, a

. spring mo'untedin the sleeve'for normally tending to force s'aidpin outwardly, means for adjusting thetension of said spring,and a switch arm carried by the plate and operatively connected with thereby.

2. A circuit-closer for a device of the character described, including aplate hav-- ing a sleeve thereon, a lever pivotally mounted on the plate, a pin slidably mounted in the plate and having an end thereof in position to engage and actuate the lever, the oppo-j site end ofsaid pin extending into the sleeve,

a spring mounted in the sleeve for normally ten-ding to force said; pin outwardly, means for adjusting the tension of said spring, van

insulated block carried by the plate having contacts thereon, a switch-armin position to engage said contacts, and a spring-pressed switch-pin connected with said arm andslid ably mounted through the plate in position to engage the lever on the-opposite side of its pivotal point from the first-mentioned pin for actuation by said lever.

'3. A circuit 7 closer of the character uescribed including a support,:a lever pivotally mounted thereon, a plunger in position to actuate the lever, resilientmeans for'actuating said plunger, circuit breakingmeans associate'dwiththe lcver, a pin connected With the c rcuit breaking means, and extending into operative relationwith the lever, and resilient means of less resil ency than the first-mentioned resilient means normally tendingto move the pin andlever against the action-of said first-mentioned resilient means. i 4, A c rcu t closer comprising a'support, a 1 r. SlGGVGCZLITlGCl thereby,'a'pivotally mounted lever, a pin extending into the sleeve and having a portion thereof in position to actui ate the lever, resilient means actingon the pin to force the same outwardly, and a switch arm operatively. connected with the lever for actuation thereby. r

In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature. FRANCIS" MARION JACOB;

the leverfor actuation v i r it 

